tips on taking senior pictures

[langham08]

so one of my friends asked me if i would take senior pictures for her and i agreed.
This would be my first time doing this so does any body of have any tips to give me?

thanks your help would be greatly appreciated :)

[Supermanny]

Music. Ask them to bring their favorite.

[HotHolly]

The more you get her laughing and joking around the better the shots turn out. Even if you are doing posed stuff. Catching the edge of a giggle looks a million times better than that straight faced teenage blank are-you-retarded stare. lol. It adds a little kick, they still have that bad-ass smile they like, but the corners of their mouth tips up so their moms like it too. Super model in the making! Ta-dah!

Just keep talking to them - even when you have the camera to your face. If you cant talk and shoot bring someone with you that will help you out. I always talk while Im shooting. Mike is quieter and tends to get more formal looking images b/c the subject doesnt relax as much.

OK, Im talking too much. HAVE FUN! LAUGH! TALK ALOT! And shoot something!

[boldimagery]

get to know them... find out what they like to do base your shoot on that... if you can associate them with their passion in a photo they will be more comfy in front of the camera... ditto on the above too

[langham08]

awesome thank you guys and gals for the input!

[toverman]

Because it's a girl, you might pick a location where she can also change her clothes (maybe even twice). A variety of looks can't hurt.

[bigwavesurfergirl]

Is she involved in any school activities? Way back when I was a senior, I played Lacrosse, so one one my "themes" in my shoot was Lacrosse.

So, with some of the shots, incorporate her school activities. Some people also shot with their car (we were the mustangs, so every other student at my school drove a mustang, so a lot of senior pictures featured guys and gals posing with their cars... haha)

If she's really involved in band, have her bring her instrument, etc.

Have fun!

Monica